Carry and Conceal Shirt

ABSTRACT

A carry and conceal garment is provided that allows a wearer to carry an article along the wearer&#39;s waist without alerting others to its presence. The garment comprises an outer garment layer and an inner garment layer. The inner garment layer forms to the wearer&#39;s torso and is adapted to be tucked behind the carried article and into the wearer&#39;s pants waist. The outer garment layer is positioned over the carried article and loosely over the wearer&#39;s pants waist. The outer garment layer comprises a first tubular shell, whereby the inner garment layer comprises a second tubular shell. The tubular shell of the inner garment layer is either coextensive with the tubular shell of the outer garment, or is one that is limited to the mid-torso of the wearer and is affixed to the midportion of the tubular shell of the outer garment layer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/182,899 filed on Jun. 22, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to garments. More specifically, the present invention relates to upper body garments that allow a wearer to more effectively conceal and carry an article along the wearer's torso without any outside indication of the article's presence.

There are many situations in which a user may wish to carry a concealed article under his or her garments. Common situations include concealing personal items and valuables while traveling, and also concealing firearms for personal protection and security use. Many people carry firearms for personal safety and many more carry firearms because of their occupation as security or law enforcement. For those who carry concealed weapons for these purposes, ensuring the weapon remains concealed may be paramount. For many, this means carrying the firearm within a body-conforming holster or simply supporting the firearm in the opening of the wearer's pants. However, doing so may make the firearm visible to outside users and furthermore may leave the firearm inaccessible when needed.

The present invention provides a new and improved upper body garment that facilitates concealment of a carried article, and particularly a concealed firearm. The present invention provides a modified shirt that includes an inner garment layer and an outer garment layer, whereby the garment layers overlay one another and provide a means to conceal an article therebetween. The article, such as a firearm or personal item, is positioned along the waist of the wearer's pants. The inner garment layer is tucked under the article and into the wearer's pants, while the outer garment layer is freely positioned over the article and over the waist of the wearer's pants. The shirt therefore comprises dual layers, whereby a torso portion (i.e. the inner garment layer) is positioned below a looser fitting outer garment layer. The outer layer is adapted to act as a curtain that conceals discontinuities along the wearer's waist, thereby allowing the user to tuck an article into the wearer's pants without having the article visible from the outside.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is intended solely for the benefit of the reader and is not intended to be limiting in any way. The present invention provides a new garment for concealing articles, wherein the same can be utilized for concealing personal items and firearms along a wearer's waist using a double-layer upper body garment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved carry and conceal garment that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a carry and conceal garment for concealing an article carried on a wearer's torso.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment that comprises an outer garment layer and an inner garment layer, whereby the article is supported between the inner and outer garment layers and the outer garment layer shrouds the presence of the article thereunder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment in which the outer garment layer forms a first tubular shell adapted to conform to an upper body of a wearer, the first tubular shell having an upper neck hole, a pair of arm holes, a pair of sides, and a lower opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment in which the inner garment layer is affixed beneath the outer garment layer and forms a second tubular shell having an upper neck hole, a pair of arm holes, a pair of sides, and a lower opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment in which in one embodiment, the second tubular shell is substantially coextensive with the first tubular shell. The first tubular shell is affixed to the second tubular shell along at least one of the neck hole, the pair of sides, or the pair of arm holes of the first tubular shell. The lower opening of the first tubular shell is disconnected from the lower opening of the second tubular shell.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment in which in one embodiment, the inner garment layer is affixed beneath the outer garment layer and forms a second tubular shell with an upper opening and a lower opening. In this embodiment, the upper opening and lower opening of the second tubular shell are substantially equal in size and the second tubular shell has a height. The second tubular shell furthermore is affixed to the midportion of the first tubular shell, whereby the lower opening of the first tubular shell is disconnected from the lower opening of the second tubular shell.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment in which the lower opening of the first tubular shell is adapted to be tucked into an upper extent of a lower body garment while the lower opening of the second tubular shell is adapted to be loosely positioned over the upper extent of the lower body garment to conceal an article positioned along the upper extent of the lower body garment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment wherein the first tubular shell and the second tubular shell are further affixed along a pair of lateral sides of the first tubular shell.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment wherein the first tubular shell is affixed to the second tubular shell along neck hole and pair of arm holes of the first tubular shell.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment wherein the second tubular shell is adapted to be form-fitted to the wearer based on a given size, while the first tubular shell thereover is adapted to be more loosely fitted to the wearer relative to the second tubular shell.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carry and conceal garment wherein the upper opening of the second tubular shell has a perimeter edge that is affixed to the midportion of the first tubular shell.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the carry and conceal garment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the present invention in a crew neck, short sleeve shirt embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a view of another embodiment of the carry and conceal garment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the inner garment layer of the second embodiment of the carry and conceal garment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary view of the carry and conceal garment of the present invention in a working state, supporting a firearm between inner and outer garment layers and along the pants waist of the wearer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the carry and conceal garment of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for carrying and concealing an article between an inner and outer garment layer and along the torso of a wearer. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown views of the carry and conceal garment of the present invention. In particular, an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In the embodiment shown, the garment comprises an outer garment layer 10 that is attached to and disposed over an inner garment layer 30. The inner garment layer 30 is substantially coextensive with the outer garment layer 10 along the torso of the wearer and is connected thereto along lines of connection. In use, the inner garment layer 30 is adapted to be tucked under a pants waist of a wearer, while the outer garment layer 10 is loosely positioned over the pants waist of the wearer. An article positioned along the torso of the wearer is effectively concealed under the loosely-disposed outer garment layer 10, thereby allowing the wearer to effectively carry and conceal a garment between the layers.

The outer garment layer 10 is one that forms a first tubular shell adapted to conform to an upper body of a wearer. The first tubular shell has an upper neck hole 15, a pair of arm holes 17 and a lower opening 11. Moreover, the first tubular shell may be comprised of a front panel 18 and a rear panel 19 that are stitched together along adjoining sides 13 of the panels. In this way, the first tubular shell of the outer garment layer forms an upper body garment, such as t-shirt, shirt, or other torso covering garment. The outer garment layer 10 may comprise different styles, sizes, and shapes to fit the size, shape, and style of the wearer. In addition, the outer garment layer 10 is adapted to be more loosely-fitted to the wearer than the inner garment layer 30, whereby the inner garment layer 30 is adapted to conform to the wearer more closely than the outer garment layer 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the outer garment layer 10 may comprises a neck hole perimeter 14 having a crew neck style 14, collared neck style 28, or alternative configuration. Additionally, extending from the arm holes 17 may be short sleeves 25, three-quarter sleeves, or full sleeves depending on style. The sleeves 25 have a sleeve opening 26 that terminates corresponding to the length of the sleeve 25 and thus at different locations along the wearer's arm. It is not desired to limit the outer garment layer to a particular style of shirt, absolute size, or shape. Rather, it is desired that the outer garment layer form an upper torso covering with a tubular shell. The tubular shell may include openings, such as a button down garment would provide, or the tubular shell may form a continuous shell without a front, side, or rear opening. Furthermore, it is desired that the outer garment layer have a lower opening 11 and a lower extent 12 that is separated from the inner garment layer 30, thereby allowing the lower extent 12 to hang loosely from the wearer while the inner garment layer 30 is tucked under a pants waist or otherwise disposed more closely to the wearer.

The inner garment layer 30 is one that preferably is more closely fitted to the wearer, depending on the size of the garment. In particular, the inner garment layer 30 is one that is adapted to be more closely fitted to a wearer relative to the outer garment layer 10, at least along the lower extents 12, 32 of both layers. The absolute size of each layer will change with the overall size designation of the garment, but the inner garment layer 30 is preferably more fitted relative to the outer garment layer 10 such that the outer garment layer will hang more loosely on the frame of the wearer to conceal underlying articles between the layers.

Additionally, the inner garment layer 30 is one that may comprise different styles and constructions. In one embodiment, and as provided in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner garment layer 30 is affixed beneath the outer body garment layer and forms a second tubular shell having an upper neck hole 35, a pair of arm holes 36 and a lower opening 31. The second tubular shell of the inner garment layer 30 is substantially coextensive with the first tubular shell of the outer garment layer 10. That is, the inner garment layer 10 forms a tubular shell that extends along a height 40 of the wearer's torso and affixes to the outer garment layer 10 therealong. The first tubular shell of the outer garment layer 10 is affixed to the second tubular shell of the inner garment layer 30 along at least one of the neck hole 14, the pair of arm holes 17, and the sides 13 of the first tubular shell. In this way, the inner garment layer 30 and the outer garment layer 10 are connected along lines of connection 50 that secure the two layers together along the wearer's torso, but are separated along the waist or midsection of the wearer.

If the tubular shells of the inner 30 and outer 10 garment layers are affixed along the sides 13, 33 thereof, the line of connection extends along a height of the garment 40 and terminates such that a portion of the sides 13, 33 are disconnected along the midsection or waist of the wearer. This allows the lower openings 11, 31 of the layers 10, 30 to separate along the waist of the wearer and conceal an article therebetween. In one embodiment, the tubular shell of the inner garment layer 10 comprises a front panel 38 and a rear panel 39 that are connected along adjacent sides 33 thereof. Furthermore, the inner garment layer 30 affixes to the outer garment layer 10 along at least one of the pair of sides 33, 13, along the perimeter edges 16, 36 of each arm hole 37, 17, and the perimeter edges 34, 14 of the neck holes 35, 15. The layers are affixed along lines of connection 50, which are preferably sewn lines of connection.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, another embodiment of the inner garment layer 30 is contemplated. In this embodiment, the inner garment layer 30 is affixed beneath the outer garment layer 10 and forms a second tubular shell with an upper opening 61 and a lower opening 31. The upper opening 61 and lower opening 31 of the second tubular shell have a substantially equal open area and diameter, forming a substantially cylindrical shell with a constant radius. The radius may change along its height, however, in some embodiments. The upper opening 61 furthermore has a perimeter edge 62 that is adapted to terminate along the mid-body or mid-torso of a wearer, while the lower opening 31 extends downward and is even or extending further than the lower extent 12 of the outer garment layer 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second tubular shell of the inner garment layer 30 is affixed to the midportion of the first tubular shell along a height thereof 45. In particular, the inner garment layer 30 may be affixed to the outer garment layer along the perimeter 62 of the upper opening, or along a pair of lateral sides 63 extending along the height of inner garment layer 30. The inner garment layer 30 in this embodiment forms a substantially cylindrical torso garment that is form-fitted to the wearer based on a given size and relative to the outer garment layer 10, while the outer garment layer is adapted to be more loosely fitted to the wearer relative thereto. Moreover, the inner garment layer 30 in this embodiment extends along the height 45 of the outer garment layer 10 to a certain extent, and does not engage the arm holes 17 or neck hole 14 thereof. The inner garment layer 30 is connected along lines of connection, which preferably comprise sewn lines of connection.

Referring to FIG. 5, the garment of the present invention is shown in use. In use, the lower extent 31 of the inner garment layer 30 is adapted to be tucked into an upper extent 70 of a lower body garment 71, while the lower opening 11 of the outer garment layer 10 is adapted to be loosely positioned over the upper extent 70 of the lower body garment 71. In this way, a concealed article 100 can be placed between the inner garment layer 30 and the outer garment layer 10, whereby the outer garment 10 layer covers the bulkiness, potential bulge, and outlines of the article 100 being concealed. Therefore, the outer garment layer 10 conceals the article 100, and prevents any outward appearance of its presence from showing when positioned along the upper extent 70 of the lower body garment 71.

It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A garment for concealing an article carried on a wearer's torso, comprising: an outer garment layer forming a first tubular shell adapted to conform to an upper body of a wearer, the first tubular shell having an upper neck hole, a pair of arm holes, a pair of sides, and a lower opening; an inner garment layer affixed beneath the outer garment layer forming a second tubular shell having an upper neck hole, a pair of arm holes, a pair of sides, and a lower opening; the second tubular shell being substantially coextensive with the first tubular shell; the first tubular shell being affixed to the second tubular shell along at least one of the neck hole, the pair of sides, or the pair of arm holes of the first tubular shell; the lower opening of the first tubular shell being disconnected from the lower opening of the second tubular shell; whereby the lower opening of the first tubular shell is adapted to be tucked into an upper extent of a lower body garment while the lower opening of the second tubular shell is adapted to be loosely positioned over the upper extent of the lower body garment to conceal an article positioned along the upper extent of the lower body garment. 2) The garment of claim 1, wherein the second tubular shell is adapted to be form-fitted to the wearer based on a given size, while the first tubular shell thereover is adapted to be more loosely fitted to the wearer relative to the second tubular shell. 3) A garment for concealing an article carried on a wearer's torso, comprising: an outer garment layer forming a first tubular shell adapted to conform to an upper body of a wearer, the first tubular shell having an upper neck hole, a pair of arm holes, a lower opening, and a midportion between the upper neck hole and the lower opening; an inner garment layer affixed beneath the outer garment layer forming a second tubular shell with an upper opening and a lower opening; the upper opening and lower opening of the second tubular shell being substantially equal in size and the second tubular shell having a height; whereby the second tubular shell is affixed to the midportion of the first tubular shell the lower opening of the first tubular shell being disconnected from the lower opening of the second tubular shell; whereby the lower opening of the first tubular shell is adapted to be tucked into an upper extent of a lower body garment while the lower opening of the second tubular shell is adapted to be loosely positioned over the upper extent of the lower body garment to conceal an article positioned along the upper extent of the lower body garment. 4) The garment of claim 3, wherein the first tubular shell and the second tubular shell are further affixed along a pair of lateral sides of the first tubular shell. 5) The garment of claim 3, wherein the upper opening of the second tubular shell has a perimeter edge that is affixed to the midportion of the first tubular shell. 6) The garment of claim 3, wherein the second tubular shell is adapted to be form-fitted to the wearer based on a given size, while the first tubular shell thereover is adapted to be more loosely fitted to the wearer relative to the second tubular shell. 